Payton Petersen

Photo by: Mallory Peak | Louisville Athletics

nayelis cabello, payton petersen and hannah sherman celebrate on the court

The Cards celebrate on the court after a point

Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics

Team picture for team advancing to Regionals

Celebrate in locker room after fifth set win

The team reacts to their being named Top Four NCAA Seed

payton petersen swings from the right side

Position:
Outside Hitter
Height:
5-10
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Dike, Iowa
High School:
Dike-New Hartford

PRONUNCIATION

2024: The freshman appeared in 35 sets across 20 matches, including big appearances in the National Semifinal and National Championship. Payton hit 35 kills, 38 digs, eight blocks and seven aces in 2024. Five of her aces came in the Final Four, serving two against Pitt and three against Penn State. Petersen posted a team season high hitting percentage of 0.833 at Virginia Tech with five kills on six attacks. She took her first career start against Notre Dame on Oct. 30, knocking down nine kills, two blocks and an ace. An ace in the classroom, Payton was named to the All-ACC Academic Team as well.

Prep: Payton Petersen is a 5-10 outside hitter from Dike, Iowa, where she played for Dike-New Hartford under head coach Diane Harms as well playing club for Six Pack under coach Jay Grassley. During her time with Six Pack, her team finished as national runner-up and she was named to the All-Tournament Team in 2022 before becoming the 2023 national champion where Petersen was named the 2023 MVP in the national division. At Dike-New Hartford, she was a three-time state champion in 2020, 2021 and 2023 and was state runner-up in 2022. Her 2023 team compiled a 41-0 record enroute to the state championship. She was a four-time All-Conference, All-District, and All-State selection in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. The three-time team captain also named Elite Team All-State in three consecutive seasons and was named the Co-Player of the Year in 2021. In 2022, she named the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year and was a 2023 Under Armor All-American.

Personal: Daughter of Duane and Bobbi Petersen. Born March 20, 2006. Major is communication. Her mom, Bobbi is the head volleyball coach at Northern Iowa, while her father, Duane, played football at UNI (1986-89). Her twin, Jadyn, plays volleyball at Northern Iowa.